Conveyer system.



J. A. THORNTON.

C'ONVEYER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION men MAY 9. 1914.

Patented J uly 6, 191.5.

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[Ii/III)" J. A. THORNTON.

CO'NVEYER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1914.

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COLUMBIA FLANOGRMH CO.,WASHINUTON, D. c.

J. A. THORNTON.

CONVEYER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1914.

mmwztam Patented July 6, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- J. A. THORNTON.

CONVEYER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, I914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. A. THORNTON.

CONVEYER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. I914.

hmfi mfiu Patented July 6,1915.

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JOHN THORNTON, OF McDONOGI-IVILLE, LOUISIANA,

GONV-EYER SYSTEM;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 19115.

Application filed May 9, 1914. Serial No. 837,449.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN A. THORNTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at McDonoghville, in the parish of Jefferson and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l'v'iy present invention relates to improvements in conveyer systems, especially to those in which there is some form of 0011- veyer bucket, grab, or the like, which is suspended from overhead cables and is moved backward and forward by a pull-boat, hauling engine, or any other convenient source of power.

My invention. is not limited to any special form of grab, conveyer-bucket, or the like, and I will hereafter refer to the same for convenience of description as the bucket According to this invention, the overhead cables supporting the bucket are connected to two masts so pivoted as to have their tops always tilted outwardly at an angle to the perpendicular. Between these two masts the bucket is reciprocated by the usual trolley wires operated by the hauling engine. Pivoted to these masts near the bottom thereof, and projecting outwardly, are booms carrying heavy weights, which weights are preferably very much heavier than the bucket with its load, and these weights are adapted to normally rest on the ground, except when automatically lifted, as will be hereinafter described. The masts 40 are supported on a suitable rolling carriage,

traveling on a track, preferably a multiwheeled truck mounted on a monorail as will be hereinafter described.

The purpose of this invention is to so arrange these masts and booms and weights that either mast may be moved a limited distance along its track, while its balance weight is resting on the ground, and then this balance weight may be automatically the "loaded bucket and swung to the normal position for balancing the mast. v

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

Ewhich similar reference symbols indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a side view showing diagrammatically the complete system, parts being brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness in the drawings; Fig. 3 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of .one of the masts with its boom and balance weight; Fig. 4 shows in full lines an elevation of the boom, mast and balance weight when in the normal position, with the balance weight resting on the ground, and shows in dotted lines the position of the mast, boom and balance weight when the latter is lifted by the weight of the loaded bucket approaching the center of the span; Fig. 5 is a side elevation, and Fig. 6 an. end view of one of the combined skeleton masts and trucks mounted on the monorail; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, across the track and showing the monorail truck for the mast, and a ball and socket connection between the boom and the mast, the parts of the roadbed being shown in section along the line 77 of Fig. 8, but on a smaller scale than in Fig. 8; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view, on a still larger scale, of a portion of the track.

A and A represent the two masts, each mounted to swing outward away from each other. These masts may be of any suitable constructon, but preferably of the truss construction A? shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and having legs A connected to the base thereof, carrying the shafts for the wheels W. To the heel of each mast is pivotally connected a boom B, also preferably of truss construction, as shown in Fig. 3. This boom is preferably connected to the heel of the mast by a universal joint arrangement, such as the socket 5 on the boom engaging the round lug (0 on the heel of the mast, as shown in Fig. 7.

Each boom is suspended from its mast by suitable guys, such as the tackle b and the guy ropes b, which guy ropes may be wound up on the spools 6 see Fig. 4, and the tackle b may be pulled up, or eased ofi, as desired, so. that the ends of the booms may be hoisted up or lowered down through a small angle in order to lift or lower the weights D and D corresponding to irregularities in the ground; thus these guys support the boom from the mast head at the desired angle relative to the mast.

The balance weight is suspended from the end of the boom in any convenient way, as

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by means of the slings d. Each mast may be mounted upon any suitable truck with its heel hinged thereto, so as to permit the mast to swing outwardly or inwardly as may be desired; but this swinging movement of the mast is most conveniently secured by having it mounted on a wheeled truck traveling on a monorail track, such as C, and shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 8, in which WV represents one of the wheels atthe heel of the mast, which travels on the monorail arrangement 0 comprising a series of cross ties C set at an angle with the ground G, on which cross ties are the blocks C cut away, as at 0 to support the ordinary rails C the heads of which rails are pressed upon by the metal plates C projecting under and supporting the treads of the rails as shown in Fig. 7, and secured to the blocks 0 and the cross ties C by means of the bolts 0. Exterior to the rails C is a round metal bar C which rests on the metal plate C let into the base of the block C and which bears against the side of the rail C as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. These round metal bars break joint with the rails C as shown in Fig.8, and being pressed close into the rails by gravity and by the weight of the masts, and the other parts supported thereby, there is a firm joint always secured, which obviates the necessity of fish plates, or other like fastenings, and enables the parts on the short line of the track required in such apparatus to be readily shifted as occasion may require.

The construction and operation of this monorail system is more fully described and claimed in my application entitled improvements in portable monorail construction, filed 'May 5, 1914, Serial No. 836499, and willnot be furtherdescribed herein.

There are two of these tracks C laid parallel and both having their cross ties set at an angle with the horizon, for reasons hereinafter explained.

Connecting the masts A and A is the safety stay F and the track wires 1 and 2, on which rests the wheeled carriage E supporting the bucket E. The bucket E is moved toward the mast A by the hauling line 3 and toward the mast A by the hauling line 4, both operated in the usual wellknown way by the hauling engine H, which maybe located at any convenient or desired point, either on shore or on a pull-boat.

In the diagram illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the apparatus as used in building a levee L, in which G represents theground and G the so-called borrow pit, and G one of the'cuts made in the ground forming the said borrow pit in the operation of removing the earth therefrom to build the levee.

The masts may be moved along the track at right angles to the cableway, in any convenient way, as by means of the pull ropes 5 and 6 shown in Fig. 2. The masts are mounted on the trucks with the outward tilt of the same controlled in the one direction by the safety stay F, and in the other direction by the weights D and D. These weights D and D are considerably heavier than the filled bucket E (in practice being about 90,000 lbs. for each of the balance weights to about 15,000 lbs. for the loaded bucket), so that they may always keep the masts in a position tilted outward, no matter what may be the position of the bucket, or whether it be loaded or not. 1t will be noted that the resultant thrust, due to the action of the loaded bucket pulling in one direction on the mast and the weighted boom pulling in another direction, will act in a line located between the axis of the boom and the axis of the mast, the direction of which line of resultant thrust will vary with the relative pull of the two weights referred to; but the direction may be easily determined, and by carrying the plane of the cross ties substantially at right angles to this line of thrust, there will be no tendency to push the cross ties endwise in the soft earth, thus throwing the track out of line, and the apparatus out of operation. Therefore, having determined either by calculation or experiment the direction of the resultant thrust on the track, the cross ties may be laid at such an angle that there will be no endwise thrust on same when the apparatus is in operation, and therefore the track will hold firmly; whereas in many of the devices hitherto in use there has been great difficulty experienced in bold ing the track against lateral distortion, with disastrous results.

It being well known that the pull of a weight on a flexible chain suspended by its two ends and forming approximately a catenary curve is greatest when the weight is in the center of the loop and lessens as it approaches the two ends thereof, I adjust the relative weights of the boom and balance weight and the loaded bucket (say (3 to 1 that whenever the loaded bucket approaches the center of the loop each mast head will be swung slightly inward, but not far enough to reach the vertical position; but far enough to lift the balance wei hts clear of the ground where they normally rest. Thus should the bucket E be hauled. as in the usual process of excavation, toward the mast A, as it nears the center of the loop, it will automatically tip the head of said mast inward, as shown in Fig. 4-, lifting the boom B and its weight D, and this boom will by gravity swing to its lowest position, which will be in the same vertical plane as the axis of the mast A assuming the top of the track C to be level. hen the excess of pressure is restored to the boom side of the mast, the balance weight will fall to the ground again. Thus it will beseen that it menses will be feasible to move the mast A, and the parts carried thereby, through a short distance along the track without lifting the balance weight D, and yet after the mast has been moved, this balance weight is automatically lifted by the Weight of the bucket and when lifted is automatically swung by gravity to the proper posit-ion, and is aut inatically lowered to the ground when the pull due to the weight of the bucket is decreased.

Since the weight of the mast and boom and of the overhead gear is only a small fraction of the weight of the counterweights D, it will be obvious that it will require a small r amount of power to move the mast along its track without disturbing the counterweight than would be required if it were necessary to simultaneously move the mast, counterweight and all along the track, as is the case with all the excavating apparatus of a similar character now in use.

This operation of moving the mast without disturbing its counterweight not only affords a considerable saving of power in the actual moving of the mast, but greatly lessens the load on the track while the truck being moved, thereby rendering it feasible to use a lighter track which is only subjected to heavy strains while the truck is at rest, and also obviates the necessity for securely locking the track against endwise movement on the cross ties during the movement of the truck thereon. It will be obvious that the opposite mast A may be similarly moved along its track without disturbing its counterweight D, and that this counterweight will be automatically lifted and swung to.

the new position when the loaded bucket is near the center of the loop, and thus the ma may be moved alternately.

In the ordinary nature of the excavation operation, it would happen that the loaded bucket would inevitably be near the mast A at the beginning of the out and near the mast A at the end'of the cut, so that the alternate shifting of the mast A and A would sugitself automatically to the operator.

In the herein described apparatus I have shown a grab bucket of the well-known type shown in my U. S. Patent l lo/812616 of Feb ruary 17, 1 07, known as the Thornton grab but any suitable conveying grab, or supporting device, may be used if desired, the nature of the bucket not being a part of my present invention. It will also be obvious that any suitable weights D and D may be used, such as bags or other vessels filled with earth. Moreover any suitable form of hauling apparatus may be used at any suitable location; these features not being a part of my present invention.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in the herein described apparatus and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which might be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A; transportation system comprising two oppositely-disposed masts mounted to si'ving toward or away from each other, and each adapted to be moved laterally, cables connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outward therefrom, and balance weights attached to the ends of said boomsand normally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from the ground when the loaded conveyer approaches the center of the span, substantially as described.

2. A transportation system comprising two oppositely-disposed masts mounted to swing toward or away from each other, and each adapted to be moved laterally, means for moving said masts alternately through a limited distance at right angles to the plane drawn through the longitudinal axes of both masts, cables connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outwardly therefrom, and balance weights attached to the ends of said booms and nor mally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from the ground when the loaded conveyer approaches the center of the span, substantially as described.

transportation system comprising two parallel tracks, a truck on each track, a mast carried by each truck free to swing pivotally at right angles to said track but held against swinging in the direction of said track, cables connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projectingoutwardly therefrom, and balance weights attached to the ends of said booms and normally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from the ground when the loaded conveyer approaches the center of the span, substantially as de scribed.

r 4:. A transportation system comprising two parallel tracks, a truck on each track, a mast carried by each truck free to swing pivotally at right angles to said track but held against swinging in the direction of said track, means for moving said masts alternately through a limited distance at right angles to the plane drawn through the longitudinal axes of both masts, cables connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outwardly therefrom, and balance weights attached to the ends of said booms and normally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from &

' whereby said mast is free to swing pivotally at right angles to said track but is held against swinging in the direction of said track, cables connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outwardly therefrom, and balanceweights attached to the ends of said booms and normally resting on the ground, .but being automatically lifted from the ground when theloaded conveyer approaches the center of the span substantially as described.

'6. A transportation system comprising I two parallel monorail tracks, two masts each having a spreading heel with a series of wheels journaled in its heel to form a monorail truck, said wheels running on said track whereby said mast is free to swing pivotally at: right angles tosaid track, but is held against swinging in the-direction of said track, vmeans for moving said masts alternately through a limited distance atright angles to the plane drawn through the long1t'ud1nal axes of both masts, cables connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outwardly therefrom, and balance weights attached to the ends of said booms and normally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from the ground when the loaded conveyer'approaches the center of the span substantially as described;

7. A transportation system comprising two parallel monorail tracks, cross ties supporting each of said-tracks mounted in a plane substantially at right angles to the resultant line of thrust due to the suspended parts, 'two masts each having a spreading heel with a series of wheelsjournaled in its heel to form a monorail truck, said wheels running on said track whereby said mast is free. to swing pivotally at right angles to Copies of this patent may be obtained for said track but is held againstswinging in the direction of said track, means for moving said masts alternately through a limited distance at right angles to the plane drawn through the longitudinal axes of both masts, cables connecting said masts, a conveyor traveling on said cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outwardly therefrom, and balance weights attached to the ends of said booms and normally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from the ground when the loaded conveyer approaches the center of the span, substantially as described.

8. A transportation system comprising two oppositely-disposed masts mounted to swing toward or away from each other, and each adapted to be moved laterally, a stay cable connecting said masts, track cables also connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said track cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outwardly therefrom, and balance weights attached to the ends of said booms and normally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from the ground when the loaded conveyer approaches the center of the span, substantially as described.

9. A transportation system comprising two oppositely-disposed masts mounted to swing toward or away from each other, and each adapted to be moved laterally, a stay cable connecting said masts, means for moving said masts alternately through a limited distance at right angles to the plane drawn through the longitudinal axes of both masts, track cables connecting said masts, a conveyer traveling on said track cables, booms swingingly connected to said masts and projecting outwardly therefrom, and balance weights attached to the end of said booms and normally resting on the ground, but being automatically lifted from the ground when the loaded conveyer approaches the center of the span, substantially as described. In testimony whereof, I affix my 'signa ture, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. THORNTON. Witnesses:

ERNEST WILKINSON, H. W. PRIMM.

five cents each, by'addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

